Summer prep

While melting in the afternoon heat yesterday, I spent 5 minutes considering a few things I could do to enjoy a more relaxing Christmas, and a productive start to 2026. Here's what I will be doing:

⛔ Unsubscribing, ruthlessly. If an email newsletter or app subscription hasn't served me this year, I am letting it go.

🙏 Saying thank you. I'll be calling or sending messages (or a Big Little Gift Box) to the people who have supported through me this year. 

📥 Clearing my inbox. I employ a clean inbox policy anyway, snoozing and archiving emails with enthusiasm, so this is easy for me to be honest. 

✍ Planning the return to work. I am currently writing my to-do list for my first week back. It means I don't carry the mental load into the break and I'll be more productive when I return to the office. I also benefit from the incubation effect (it works, just ask Archimedes). 

📴 Disconnecting. I am updating my Out-of-Office, adding a temporary voicemail message, and turning off any work notifications. 

🎣 Scheduling "Me Time." As an ambivert, I love spending time with my family and friends, but I also really need some alone time so I will be scheduling a couple of days to wade through a cool river and hassle some trout.

☕ Reviewing my Annual Plan. The first thing on my 2026 to-do list is to grab a coffee and review my business strategy and operational plan. 

👀 Checking in. I'll be connecting with Peter Allan and our wider business partners to check in with them before the end of January. 

What are you doing to give yourself a restful break?

hashtag#almostholidaymode hashtag#planning #2026